Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Beforepurchasingaspeakerset,doyourresearchandlookatreviewsofwhatothersthink
about the speakers you are considering.
You can control the volume and other sound attributes of your speakers in various ways,
depending on their complexity and cost. Typically, each speaker has a volume knob, al-
though some share a single volume control. If one speaker is farther away than the other,
you might want to adjust the volume accordingly. Many computer speakers include a dy-
namic bass boost (DBB) switch. This button provides a more powerful bass and clearer
treble,regardlessofthevolumesetting.Otherspeakershaveseparatebassandtrebleboost
switches or a three-band equalizer to control low, middle, and high frequencies. When
you rely on your audio adapter's power rather than your speakers' built-in amplifier, the
volume and DBB controls have no effect. Your speakers are at the mercy of the adapter's
power.
For best audio quality, adjust the master volume on the sound card near the high end and
use the volume control onpowered speakers to adjust the volume. Otherwise, yourspeak-
ers try to amplify any distortions coming from the low-power input from the PC's audio
adapter.
A 1/8-inch stereo minijack connects from the audio adapter's output jack to one of the
speakers. The speaker then splits the signal and feeds through a separate cable from the
first speaker to the second one (often referred to as the
satellite speaker
).
Before purchasing a set of speakers, check that the cables between the speakers are long
enough for your computer setup. For example, a tower case sitting alongside your desk
might require longer speaker wires than a desktop computer.
Beware of speakers that have a tardy built-in sleep feature. Such speakers, which save
electricity by turning themselves off when they are not in use, might have the annoying
habit of clipping the first part of a sound after a period of inactivity.
Headphones can provide higher-quality sound for a given price than a comparably priced
speaker set, provide better listening to 3D audio special effects in games, provide privacy,
and enable you to play your PC audio as loud as you like. You can connect headphones
via either traditional audio jacks or you can buy USB-based versions.
For best results with newer sound cards that support four speakers or more, check the
properties sheet for the audio adapter and set whether you're using headphones, stereo
speakers, or a larger number of speakers. Use your audio software to set up 3D or other
audio effects.
Makesurethatspeakersareplacedproperly.Ifyouuseasubwoofer,putitonthefloorfor
better bass sound and to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) with other devices.
